In nicest compliment you can get, Grizzlies were saying how much they missed O.J.–before he burst out of gate, averaging 21.
| RANK | TEAM | THE RUNDOWN | LAST |
| 1 | SPURS (7-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Biggest Knicks-Spurs game since 1999 on Thursday night. Second unit still good enough to beat lot of teams. Manu easing into action, averaging 20 minutes. Gary Neal, their No. 4 or 5 guard, averaging 10, shooting 55%. And Pop is calling last-shot plays for Danny Green. |
2 |
| 2 | HEAT (6-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Three games left on six-game trip. Second game of TNT twinbill Thursday vs. Nuggets. With more shooters (Allen at 54%; Lewis at 50), Bron and D-Wade are giving up the ball: No. 4 in assists so far, to last season’s No. 25. |
1 |
| 3 | GRIZZLIES (5-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Can they rise higher with sweep of Miami, OKC and Knicks? (Damn, Matt Winick!) Known for scoring, they’re No. 4 in offense—and No. 5 in defense, a far cry from No. 28 the season before Hollins took over in 2009. |
10 |
| 4 | THUNDER (6-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Thing get easy after test match (excuse cricket reference) vs. Grizz tonight. Too soon to panic: 5-0 run follows 1-2 start, if only against four opponents with losing records and 4-2 Bulls. |
14 |
| 5 | CLIPPERS (5-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: After beating Spurs by 18, have to play them in S.A. on Monday Bench, No. 25 in scoring last season, is now No. 3, averaging 41 a game with Crawford getting 20 and Bledsoe hounding people on D. |
12 |
| 6 | KNICKS (5-0) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Five games in seven nights, including roadies at S.A. and Memphis Possible Finals preview Thursday in San Antonio. Or not. Their No. 1-ranked defense will certainly be tested. |
3 |
| 7 | WOLVES (5-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Only play four games over next 11 days, one of which is Bobcats Major achievement for team with five (5) rotation players out: Love, Rubio, Roy, and reserves Barea, Budinger. |
13 |
| 8 | HORNETS (3-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: We learn why they gave up Warrick for Carroll, who has logged 5 minutes this season. No wonder Monty went bonkers when league sat AD out for two games post-concussion: Davis gets 23-11 in return. |
7 |
| 9 | CELTICS (4-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Beginning tonight, four games in five nights – but stretch ends vs. Detroit. They may not be over, but it’s a new day. In four full seasons with Truth, KG and Ray-Ray, went 104-14 before Christmas. Last two started 0-3 and 1-2. |
19 |
| 10 | BUCKS (4-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Easy sked: Indiana, New Orleans, Charlotte. Comer: Third-year center Larry Sanders averages 10-10 plus 2.4 blocks off bench in last five. He had three double-digit scoring games last season. |
12 |
| 11 | SIXERS (4-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: When does the word “February” come into play when discussing Andrew Bynum? Sometimes you add by subtraction: With Iggy gone and ball in his hands, Jrue’s on career pace, averaging 18 |
22 |
| 12 | BULLS (4-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Annual circus road trip is only five games this season Your mission, whether you wish to accept it or not, is to do well enough to make sure management isn’t tempted to shut down Derrick Rose this season. |
8 |
| 13 | JAZZ (4-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Try to avoid any more 3OT games, which can be taxing. 3 in 4 nights to wrap East trip Some things never change, whether it’s Stockton and Mailman, or DWill and Booz, or Mo and Jefferson: One road win, no home losses. |
20 |
| 14 | NUGGETS (4-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Test time: Next four vs. Miami, San Antonio, Memphis, Minny. After 0-3 start on road, best team without anyone in top 40 in scoring goes 3-1. Faried wins West’s Player of the Week. |
24 |
| 15 | NETS (4-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Celtics on TNT, then next five vs. Western Conference teams. No. 5 in defense. Of course, that’s with two wins vs. punchless Magic, plus Ws at home over Raptors, Cavaliers. |
21 |
| 16 | HAWKS (3-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Magic, Wizards at home after ending West trip. Winick? Not bad for holding operation: If upcoming free agent J-Smoove goes, GM Ferry has almost enough cap room for two max deals. |
25 |
| 17 | MAVERICKS (4-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Playing stretch in which 10 of 13 vs. East teams. In nicest compliment you can get, Grizzlies were saying how much they missed O.J.–before he burst out of gate, averaging 21. |
6 |
| 18 | LAKERS (3-5) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Phil Jackson to Clippers conspiracy theories sprout. Bernie Bickerstaff goes 2-0 vs. small fries until Spurs hit town and beat them. From now on, Lakes are D’Antoni’s problem. (Read this excellent Heisler column, folks-CS). |
23 |
| 19 | SUNS (4-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Did you hear (read) the one about Seinfeld without Jerry? It’s hard to recall but Beasley, averaging 13, shooting 36% for team No. 3, put up better freshman numbers than Durant four years ago. |
26 |
| 20 | PACERS (3-5) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: OK, Donnie. Are you going to Band-Aid Granger somehow? David West averaged 13 last season after knee surgery, back to 19 in nick of time with Granger out for 3 months. |
5 |
| 21 | ROCKETS (3-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Jeremy Lin vs. Mike D’Antoni. Back in February, who had it under these circumstances? Has Sam Presti exhaled? Since averaging 41, shooting 64% in first two, Harden’s at 20, 37%. |
11 |
| 22 | BOBCATS (3-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: That Mike Dunlap is a COY fella, eh? Better stop confusing them with last season’s helpless waifs who didn’t win third game until Jan. 14. Of course, that season started on Christmas. |
30 |
| 23 | WARRIORS (3-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Toughies on road: Minnesota, OKC, Dallas. 2-1 would be nice. About half of last season’s Milwaukee comments in Power Rankings involved Bogut’s health. To date with Warriors, he played two, sat one, played two, sat two…. |
22 |
| 24 | BLAZERS (3-5) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Why doesn’t Paul Allen tweet pics from yacht? Arison tweets from cruise ships. Batum, whom Timberwolves gave four-year $46 million offer sheet, shows he was worth fighting over, averaging 19-6-3 with 2.4 steals. |
17 |
| 25 | RAPTORS (2-6) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: The “Why exactly are we trading Jose Calderon?” debate heats up. Lowry’s ankle injury which sidelined him for last four looking problematic as he goes to New York for second opinion. |
18 |
| 26 | CAVALIERS (2-6) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Fans watch Kyrie, Anderson; avoid eye contact with rest of ’em That’s why they call them rookies: No. 4 overall pick Waiters has scored 17-7-13-12-28-12-23-8-8. |
15 |
| 27 | KINGS (2-6) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: If they’re going to get well … light week with home games vs. BKL and ATL Youth may still be an issue: Cousins, supposedly chilled out by Smart, thaws enough to go after announcer Sean Elliott and get suspended 2 games. |
27 |
| 28 | PISTONS (0-8) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: To repeat … Lawrence Frank calms team: “I’ve been through worse.” Someone Up There, whether NBA office or higher, still doesn’t like them: With two of first eight at home, headed for Philadelphia and, presumably, 0-9. |
28 |
| 29 | WIZARDS (0-6) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Bleak. Is their first winnable game Nov. 24 vs. Bobcats? I’m putting the over/under on their win total by time Wall is back in December at three. Just kidding. Make that four. |
24 |
| 30 | MAGIC (2-5) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: I expect a call from Pat Williams to complain about this ranking. I also expect him to churn out 2 books in that time. Who’d have thought their 2-0 start didn’t mean anything? Oh yeah, everyone. |
9 |
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How does that #6 ranking look now idiot? The Knicks were 5-0 with the #1 offense AND defense, won every game by 10 or more, every team they played was a playoff team last year and you DROPPED them 3 spots? How is that fair? Well you have pretty much no choice but to put them first next week.
I absolutely agree that it is early. I am not saying that the knicks have earned the #1 spot just yet, however they have made a reasonable case. Certainly way better than a 6ranking!
If they were at 3 or 4, I would show greater patience and ignore Heisler the Hamster.
You can’t knock those wins. The knicks were dominate. The sixers, Mavs AND Knicks were missing key people. The Heat couldn’t get up for the game???.
It is more the 5-0 record. If you have watched every game, I can’t see how you can disagree. They have been dominate, other than 2 uninspired quarters vs Orlando. They woke up in time and closed like potential champions need to.
I have not see seen a knicks team move the ball and play team defense like this since the 70’s.
There is simply no rational reason to drop them from 3 last week to #6.
I guess I really don’t care but what does the Heisler Hamster have against my boys? Dolan’s cable bill too high? Related to the girl that Isiah and Dolan tag teamed in a team van?
What’s the beef? Tired of NYC hype machine? This team is for real
They are crazy deep and dangerous. If and when Shump gets back at full strength and Amare’ agrees to play with the 2nd unit, the Knicks will be a very serious threat to the man who took his talents to south beach.
I’ll take a split in the next 2 road games.
Peace people. Even you Hamster. Don’t be a hater.
Stoudemire is going to agree to be a bench player … good one.
last time I checked the dude was “ringless”.
he has got to buy in
Where do you reside? I live in the real world.
what brand of medicinal weed are you smoking sir?
The knicks remain undefeated. They lead the league in defense and several other stats.
They Win every game by at least doube digit against good competition.
They crush The Heat, 76er’s (2x), and Mav’s convincingly, yet you move them from 3 down to 6??? HUh? Where is this logic coming from?
You weren’t the ref in that olympic gold medal game vs the soviets years ago where you?
First, Heisler’s weed isn’t medicinal. Second, it doesn’t take much to beat Philadelphia and Dallas at home. Third, they’ve played a measly five games. If they cream San Antonio and Memphis in their next two games, then you can whip out the weed accusations.
Also, based upon what Earvin Johnson said last night, it’s clear that Heisler is now totally out of touch with what’s happening in Los Angeles.
I hate these power rankings things everybody does nowadays. Yeah, I know they’re just for fun, but they’re stupid, too. Fun and stupid. How does a team dip from 15th to 26th in one week. Cleveland sucked then and they sucked now. So unless Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao were in a car crash in the interim, how do these things have any relevance at all except to promote faux meaningless debate like that crappy ESPN show that’s on at 5pm Eastern, and to give a sportswriter like Heisler a small income.
Less filler, more beef.
what is this based on? Denver is obviously a top six team. And how does new orleans get to #8 Before i say how idiotic this is, maybe I should be hear the explanation.
The Raptors are 2 and 6. You had it wrong last week too.
Fixed, Brian. Thanks
Pathetic waste of time reporting. Knicks at 6? The only undefeated team and they destroyed your man-crush team Miami… time to get a new job man.